Get It Done: Hit Your Deadlines and Stay Organized

Truth is, this blog post should have been written yesterday – I always like to get things done at least a day before they are due. But with deadlines to hit, calls with reporters and more emails in my inbox than I care to mention, it simply had to wait.

I live by the motto, “get it done,” so here it is – a blog on time management and how I finally got around to putting pen to paper.

Each morning I arrive at work bright eyed and bushytailed (well most mornings anyway) and go through my Outlook calendar to see what the day has in store. If I’m being honest, most of what needs to be done is already in my head – I start thinking about my to-dos as soon as my head leaves the pillow. However, I still find it extremely important to write my day’s tasks down each and every morning. A glance in my desk drawer will reveal almost two-year’s worth of notebooks that detail my day-to-day activities. Think of it as a work diary.

The great thing about having these notebooks is that I can check them at any time to discover past meeting notes, etc. For example, say I get an email asking me about a meeting on Nov. 12, 2011. Well, say no more. A quick scan of my notebook will reveal everything I need to know.

But back to Outlook… My best friend, my compadre, my confidant. I would send my Outlook roses if I could. As soon as I know of an important date, it immediately gets added to my Outlook calendar. Not only that, I also set reminders about upcoming deadlines that are approaching.

As you can see, I am adamant about not missing deadlines. I think this goes back to the five years I spent as a newspaper reporter and editor. In all of that time, I am pleased to say that I never missed a deadline. I know it’s not earth shattering, but it is something to this day that I am extremely proud of.

Well, there you go—a little insight into how I operate on a day-to-day basis. If you’re looking for a few more tips on how to manage your schedule, you might want to check out this blog entry at Simplify This or take a look at this post on social media time management by my colleague Chris.

Newly retired, I am thankfully not in need of anything to keep me organized. In fact, I am looking forward to doing whatever I want whenever I want to. Love your work ethic which is much like mine was when I was working. I am very proud of the fine young man you are and look forward to having the time to read everything you post.

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With more than a decade of experience in public relations, newspapers, radio and television, Mike has a wealth of knowledge dealing with the media. When he’s not talking to reporters, he can be found following the University of North Carolina Tar Heels’ basketball team or spending time with his wife and two young children.